50 Hikes of the Month

The 1.9 mile Point Trail in the Obed Wild and Scenic River area offers panoramic views of the Obed River and Cumberland Plateau near Wartburg, Tenn.

Wrangler Alan Householder leads a team of llamas with supplies up the Trillium Gap Trail to LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

]The 9-mile round trip hike to stops by the White Rocks overlook and the natural rockshelter formation of the 1.5 acre Sand Cave in the Cumberland Gap National Park near Ewing, Va., April 16, 2009.

The 9-mile round trip hike to stops by the White Rocks overlook and the natural rockshelter formation of the 1.5 acre Sand Cave in the Cumberland Gap National Park near Ewing, Va., April 16, 2009.

Kobe Dupre, 14, jumps off of a high rock into Richland Creek at Laurel-Snow State Natural Area on Tuesday, June 6, 2009. Dillon Smith, 12, climbs up the rock as DaKota Leffew, 13, waits for his turn to jump. The three boys walked to Laurel-Snow just to go swimming.

Brook Smith, left, forester for Pickett State Forest, examines Cumberland sandalwood, an endangered species that grows in the rockhouses along the Hidden Passage Trail, in Pickett State Forest Monday, July 20, 2009.

Conglomerate sandstone caps the escarpment along the area known as the Devil's Racetrack near I-75 in Caryville, Tenn., Wednesday, August 20, 2009.

A one-room schoolhouse sits on the Hensley Settlement in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park near Caylor, Va., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. According to park volunteer Ronny Oplinger, his mother attended school here while she lived at the settlement.

Colditz Cove State Natural Area features the 60 foot Northrup Falls which spills over the edge of a horseshoe shaped rock shelter near Allardt, Tenn., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.

A stand of poplars tower over the Jake's Creek trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Elkmont on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. The 7.8 mile hike follows Jake's Creek trail, connects with the Meigs Mountain trail and ends at Metcalf Bottoms along the Little River Road by way of the Curry Mountain trail.

An observation deck on top of Frozen Head Mountain in Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area near Wartburg, Tenn., offers panoramic views of the surrounding Cumberland Mountains Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.

Ranger Howard Duncan visits a rock overhang on the Rock Creek Loop in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Oneida, Tenn., Jan. 19, 2010.

Nick Reynolds mountain bikes the 4.76 mile Lake View Trail in Norris Dam State Park near Norris, Tenn., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. Reynolds, a teacher at Anderson County High School, said he was using the snow day to get outdoors and bike the trail.

The Dyllis Orchard Hiking Trail follows part of a perimeter patrol road once used for the K-25 plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Mar. 30, 2010.

Retired forestry technician Freddie Swatzell walks across a log bridge over Brown's Gap Creek on the Tennessee Gulf Trail in the Martha Sundquist State Forest near Hartford, Tenn., June 8, 2010. A 105-year old tree was used on the bridge named "Swatzell's Crossing" in his honor.

Visitors swim at Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park July 8, 2010. August's hike of the month follows the Little Bottoms and Abrams Creek Trails from the Abrams Creek Ranger Station to the falls for a 10-mile round trip.

The 8-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail on No Business ridge in the Cherokee National Forest near Erwin, Tenn., is a moderate hike that offers many views of the surrounding area as seen here Aug. 24, 2010.

Water plummets 110 feet over Virgin Falls in the Virgin Falls Scientific State Natural Area near Sparta, Tenn., Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. The falls can be traced back to a stream that begins in a cave near its lip and ends in a cave at the base.

Angel Falls Overlook in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area offers a sweeping view of the Big South Fork river gorge from its rock ledge near Oneida, Tenn. Hikers will travel 2.8 miles from the Leatherwood Ford parking area to reach the overlook for a 5.6-mile round trip.

The 2.4 mile segment of the Cucumber Gap Trail winds its way through a stand of poplars in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Elkmont Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. The first segment of the hike which follows the Little River Trail parallels the Little River for an additional 2.4 miles.

The John Litton Farm in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area features two barns and a small shelter as seen here Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. John Litton founded the farmstead there in 1901.

Water pours over the 80-foot Upper Piney Falls from Little Piney Creek in the Piney Falls Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area in Rhea County Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Hikers can reach the base of the falls by following the trail around the upper part of the basin before the trail makes a steep descent to the bottom.

Hikers cross Big Ridge Dam while walking along the Lake Trail in Big Ridge State Park in Union County Wednesday, March 23, 2011. The dam, which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, separates Big Ridge Lake on the left from Norris Lake on the right.

Hikers visit the Mt. Cammerer fire tower in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cosby, Tenn., Thursday, April 14, 2011. The tower, built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

Facing Southwest while standing on the Appalachian Trail near Rocky Top offers views of Spence Field, center, Cades Cove, right, and Fontana Lake, left, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Friday, June 3, 2011.

The 4.4 mile journey along the Marine Railway Loop Trail follows an old road bed at Norris Dam State Park in Norris, Tenn., Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Part of the hike hugs the shore of Norris Lake in the Western section of the park.

Hikers traveling along Big Fat Branch Trail to Wildcat Falls will pass through an area of towering poplars and white pines as the trail makes a steep descent to Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area near Robbinsville, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

Fern Branch Falls makes its way down a 60-foot rock face near the Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. The falls are approximately 2 miles from the parking area at the head of the Porters Creek Trail.

A view from the Angel Falls Overlook shows the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River as it snakes its way through the river gorge in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. Hikers will encounter several points along the 6.8 mile Grand Gap Loop that offer views of the river gorge.

Hikers will begin descending toward Weaver Bend, seen here as a field in the distance to the right of the French Broad River, as they make their way along the Chimney Rocks Trail to the parking area in the Cherokee National Forest Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.

Water pours over Ramsey Cascades in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. The cascades continue to the right of the frame to comprise the 100-foot falls. The 8-mile round trip hike to the cascades is a moderate to advanced one with the last mile being very rocky and difficult to pass in icy conditions.

After reaching the top of the ridge while hiking along the hikers only portion of the trail, hikers may lose sight of the path in Lone Mountain State Forest near Wartburg, Tenn., Tuesday, April 17, 2012. By continuing along the top of the ridge line, hikers will eventually see red blazes that mark the way until the maintained portion of the trail picks up again.

The southbound hike along the on the Appalachian Trail near Indian Gap and the Mount Collins Shelter area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park passes through what can be considered a "green tunnel" as the presence and density of evergreens all but blocks views of the sky Friday, July 20, 2012.

Tennesse wilderness campaign for Wild South director Jeff Hunter crosses Slickrock Creek in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness will cross near Tellico Plains Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The trail crosses the creek eight times over the course of 12 miles. Hikers should use caution during heavy rains and in the winter when conditions may make the creek impassable.

Appalachian Mountain Bike Club president Brian Hann, right, and Legacy Parks Foundation Carol Evans hike along the Lost Chromosome Trail which is part of the Knoxville's Urban Wilderness trail system in South Knoxville Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. The hike follows the Lost Chromosome and Chain Ring Trails forming what is known as a "lollipop loop" for approximately four miles.

Hikers traveling along the 6.4-mile Blue Heron Loop in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will pass by the Devil's Jump and Blue Heron Overlooks which offer panoramic views of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River near Revelo, Ky., Oct. 16, 2012. The Blue Heron Overlook, seen here, is approximately one half-mile from the Devil's Jump Overlook.

One of the best spots on the Cumberland Trail near LaFollette, Tenn., is this rocky overlook where hikers can take in panoramic views of the Powell Valley seen here Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012.

The 2.3-mile Lost Road Trail is well marked with white blazes at Panther Creek State Park near Morristown, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.

Water pours over Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, near Gatlinburg, Tenn. The 1.3-mile Laurel Falls Trail, which begins at Little River Road, is one of the most well-used trails in the park and is paved from the trailhead to the falls.

A narrow stream of water that makes up Slave Falls spills approximately 60 feet into a rock house in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Jamestown, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. Hikers can reach the falls by traveling along a spur trail that extends from the Slave Falls Loop.

While standing at the Pinnacle Overlook in the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park near Middlesboro, Ky., hikers can see Cumberland Gap, Tenn., below, along with the Powell Valley and nearby Fern Lake Tuesday, March 26, 2013. The trail is just over 1.5 miles to get from Thomas Walker Parking Area to the Pinnacle Overlook.